New Delhi [India]: In a strong retaliatory move, India struck at least four airbases inside Pakistan in the early hours of Saturday, top government sources confirmed. This action came in response to Pakistan’s coordinated drone and missile attacks across 26 locations in India earlier that day. Intermittent firing continues across several points along the Line of Control (LoC), officials said.
The Ministry of Defence issued a statement highlighting the extent of the aerial threat:
“Drones have been sighted at 26 locations along the International Border and LoC with Pakistan. These include suspected armed drones. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet and Lakhi Nala. Regrettably, an armed drone targeted a civilian area in Ferozpur, resulting in injuries to members of a local family. The injured have been provided medical assistance and the area has been sanitised by security forces. The Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of alert, and all such aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems. The situation is under close and constant watch & prompt action is being taken wherever necessary. Citizens, especially in border areas, are advised to remain indoors, limit unnecessary movement, and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. While there is no need for panic, heightened vigilance and precaution are essential.”
In Jammu and Kashmir, smoke was seen rising following a loud explosion in Udhampur’s Dibber area. Continuous blasts caused damage to residential property in Rajouri, while similar loud explosions were reported in Rajouri and Akhnoor regions.
In Punjab, a drone-related explosion damaged a house in Kanganiwal village, located in rural Jalandhar.
Surjeet Kaur, a local resident, described the moment:
“A red coloured flash came above our house and there was a huge explosion. We got scared. Everything was dark. We came out of our houses after a short while and saw that the water tank above our houses and our neighbours’ houses had exploded. There was a blackout at that time, and all the lights were off.”
The previous day, Pakistani drones were also detected in Jammu, Samba, and Pathankot—just a day after Indian air defences successfully foiled an attempt to hit civilian infrastructure near the LoC and the International Border.
On the night of May 7–8, Indian forces successfully neutralised a large-scale drone and missile assault launched by Pakistan, which targeted key military installations across Northern and Western India. In the same operation, an air defence system in Lahore was reportedly destroyed.
These developments follow a major terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives. In response, India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). As Pakistan continues to escalate its offensive, Indian Defence Forces are actively engaging and responding with measured force.